Showcase for displaying objects

ABSTRACT

A show cabinet for displaying objects, one of the side panels of which is in the form of a glass door, the outer face of which, in the area of the outer edge when in the closed position, closes flush with one side panel of the cabinet in order to seal off the interior of the cabinet in a dust-tight and airtight manner against its surroundings, appropriate flexible sealing strips being affixed in the area of movement of the door. The door is mounted by a guiding means in such a way that it can be moved sideways in a parallel manner until the door opening is completely clear; to open the door, the relevant side panel ( 5 ) can be pushed back, or the door can be moved forward, to such an extent that the inner face ( 8 ) of the door ( 3 ) is able to pass the front edge ( 7 ) of the side panel ( 5 )

The invention covers a show cabinet for displaying objects, having several side panels, a base and an upper part that forms the top, at least one side panel being made in the form of a glass door, the outer side of which closes flush in the area of the outside edge of a side panel at the right- or left-hand side when the cabinet is in the closed state and the interior of the cabinet is sealed off from its surroundings in an airtight and dust-tight manner, appropriate flexible sealing strips being affixed in the door's area of movement.

A show cabinet of this type is already known. EP 0 670 405 describes a show cabinet with a door that can be swivelled outwards, the outer side of which closes flush with the outer edges of a side panel when the cabinet is in the closed state. To open the door it must first be pushed out outwards, perpendicular to the closing plane, by means of a device.

The drawback of this show cabinet is, under certain circumstances, the swivelling range of the door, particularly if the door is a large one. However, a door of this type has the advantage that the interior of a cabinet of this type is fully accessible.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a show cabinet of the type described above in which the interior is accessible through the whole of the door opening, but where no space is needed for a swivelling range in front of the cabinet.

This purpose is fulfilled in that the door is mounted, by means of a guiding means installed in the top or in the base, or in both the top and the base, in such a way that it can be pushed sideways in a parallel manner until the door opening is completely clear, whereby to open the door the relevant side panel can pushed back by suitable means, or the door can be moved forward by suitable means, to such an extent that the interior face of the door is able to pass the front edge of the side panel.

The lateral sliding capability of the door means that the whole of the door opening can be opened up; depending on the design of the guiding means, the door can be made to be moved either to one side or to both sides. Other benefits relating to the installation of the sealing strips are given in the sub-claims.

The invention is explained in greater detail on the basis of two embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows the front view of a show cabinet.

FIG. 2 shows a top view in cross-section in the area of the door and side panel with the door closed.

FIG. 3 shows a top view in cross-section in the area of the door and side panel with the door open.

A show cabinet for displaying objects, illustrated in FIG. 1, stands with its base 2 on the ground 4 and has, on its upper side, a top part 1. The cabinet is closed off at the side by a right-hand side panel 5 and a left-hand side panel 6, and a rear wall (not shown); the side panels 5 and 6 and the rear wall can be made of glass panels. At the front, the cabinet is closed by means of a door 3 in the form of a glass panel. This door 3 can be moved sideways towards the side panels 5 and 6 by guiding means installed in the top 1 or in the base 2, or in the top 1 and the base 2. The guiding means can be, for example, a “double extension” which—depending on its design—can allow a sideways movement to such an extent that the entire door opening is cleared. Depending on the formation of the guiding means, the door 3 can be moved to the left or to the right or even to both sides.

When the door 3 is in the closed position (FIG. 2), the front face 11 of the door 3 is in alignment with the front edge 7 of the side panel 5. In this position the door 3 cannot be moved sideways because its front edge 10 comes up against the interior face 9 of the side panel 5.

To open the door 3, the side panel 5 is now pushed back in its lengthwise direction to such an extent that the interior face 8 of the door 3, when it is moved, is able to pass the front edge 7 of the side panel 5 (FIG. 3). To achieve this, the side panel 5 is appropriately mounted in a movable manner at the top 1 or at the top 1 and the base 2. As soon as the door has moved back to the closed position, the side panel 5 is moved back to its initial position. To seal off the interior of the show cabinet in relation to its surroundings from dust or air, either a flexible sealing strip is affixed on the front edge 10 of the door 3, which, when the door 3 is closed, rests against the interior face 9 of the side panel 5, or the sealing strip is affixed on the interior face 9 of the side panel 5 and rests against the front edge 10 of the door 3.

In a different embodiment of the display cabinet, the side panel 5 can be permanently fixed and the guiding means can be joined to the top (1) and the base (2) in such a way that the door 3, in order to open, must first be pulled out of the cabinet so that its inner face 8 is able to pass the front edge 7 of the side panel 5 (FIG. 3). This can be effected, for example, by a guide which is affixed, parallel to the side panels 5 and 6, in the top 1 or in the top 1 and the base 2. No further details are given of this guide, as it is described in detail in EP 0 670 405 as mentioned above. To close the door 3, the door is again pushed sideways in front of the door opening and is finally pushed into the inside of the cabinet. This is possible as soon as the front edge 10 of the door 3 is level with the inner face 9 of the side panel 5. In this case also the sealing strip can be affixed in the manner described.

Because the door 3 can be designed to be movable either only to one side or to both sides, as described, the measures described regarding the sliding capability of the door 3 and the side panel 5 can also be applied in the same way to the other side panel 6.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 top -   2 base -   3 door -   4 ground -   5 right side panel -   6 left side panel -   7 front edge of side panel -   8 interior face of door -   9 interior face of side panel -   10 front edge of door -   11 front face of door 

1. Show cabinet for displaying objects, having several side panels, a base and an upper part that forms the top, at least one side panel being made in the form of a glass door, the outer side of which closes flush in the area of the outside edge of a side panel at the right- or left-hand side when the cabinet is in the closed state and the interior of the cabinet is sealed off from its surroundings in an airtight and dust-tight manner, appropriate flexible sealing strips being affixed in the door's area of movement, wherein the door (3) is mounted, by means of a guiding means affixed in the top (1) or the base (2) or in both the top (1) and the base (2), in such a way that it can be moved sideways in a parallel manner in order to completely clear the door opening, whereby to open the door the relevant side panel (5, 6) can be pushed back by suitable means, or the door (3) can be moved forward by suitable means, to such an extent that the inner face (8) of the door (3) is able to pass the front edge (7) of the side panel (5, 6).
 2. Show cabinet as in claim 1, wherein the side wall (5, 6) is mounted, in such a way that it can be moved, by means of a single extension affixed in the top (1) or in the top (1) and the base (2).
 3. Show cabinet as in claim 1, wherein the double extension of the door (3) is permanently fixed, firstly to the door (3) and secondly by means of a parallel guiding device to the cabinet.
 4. Show cabinet as in claim 1, wherein the sealing strip is affixed to the cabinet in the area of the side wall (5, 6) and, when the door (3) is closed, lies up against the inner face (8) of the latter.
 5. Show cabinet as in claim 1, wherein the sealing strip is affixed to the side wall (5, 6) in the area of the door (3) and, when the door (3) is closed, lies up against the front edge (10) of the door.
 6. Show cabinet as in claim 1, wherein the door (3) can be moved to both sides. 